A Walk by the Sea in Palma

This walk along Palma's waterfront is good in the early morning as the city stirs itself awake and the fish market comes to life, or late in the day as the sun sets over the sea, the pavement bars begin to buzz and the cathedral and castle light up for the night.

Start in Passeig Sagrera, at the foot of Avinguda d' Antoni Maura by the statue of Ramon Llull. The short tree-lined avenue, named after the architect of La Llotja, passes several interesting buildings. First, La Llotja itself, Palma's masterpiece of Gothic civic architecture; Porta Vella de Moll, the old gateway to the city from the sea; and finally Consulat de Mar, the former maritime court which houses the Baleares government.

At the end of Passeig Sagrera, cross the main road to reach the fishing port, marked by lines of blue nets. West of here, in a small garden, is the oratory of Sant Elm. Designed as a navigators' chapel, later used as a tavern, and moved here stone by stone from Passeig Sagrera in 1947. From here the walk is straight forward - just follow the seafront west along Passeig Maritim, using the promenade between the road and the sea. A cycle path, also used by joggers, runs alongside the promenade.  

Pass Reial Club Nautic, facing a section of city wall and a row of windmils; look up ahead to see Bellver Castle on its hill. As you walk on, turn around to look back at the cathedral, seen across the bay through a forest of masts. From a jetty opposite the Auditorium theatre, excursion boats offer tours of Palma Bay. Keep going, and eventually you reach Club de Mar with its luxury yachts.

Just beyond here is the commercial ferry port, where boats leave for Barcelona, Valencia, Menorca and Ibiza.  Return the same way or take Bus No 1 back to Passeig Sagrera.

Distance: 3km one way
Time: 2 hours